Warren Buffett's comment about building unreliable windmills says it all. As for the “green elephant” of using as much electricity to push water uphill as the process produces, well that's just another example of liars still thinking they can get away with their scams. Unfortunately, there is every possibility that our gullible politicians will go along with it, despite Turnbull's ignominious retreat retreat to New York.

The renewables fraction of generation was probably higher (25%?) around 1975 without wind and solar than the current 16%. As we speak Tas is exporting 400+ MW to Vic which the Andrews govt may unwisely assume will always be there as backup.

With Snowy 2's main supporter Turnbull out of the way I wonder how long before we see any actual tunnel digging and new power lines. Without carbon tax there is nothing to stop coal baseload becoming the main input for pumping. If they also ask for per-Mwh subsidies green dreamers might wonder if it is such a great idea. OTOH we would need millions of lithium ion batteries all internet connected to replicate Snowy 2 but at much greater cost.

In short Snowy 2 full version may never happen. Networked batteries won't get past the demo stage. Back to generating in real time hope there's plenty of gas.

And good riddance to Malcolm the "terrorist" Turnbull and his treacherous plan with the Snowy mountains, to assist the Labor Party into power

With so little industry left in Australia, what/who is using so much power ?

ttbn,

"... As for the “green elephant” of using as much electricity to push water uphill as the process produces,"

Never learn do you?

All around the world stored power via pumped water (uphill) is being used, just to remind you:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pumped-storage_hydroelectricity

I can agree with many of Viv's comments but using his own figure the
proposed Snowy 2.0 scheme if full could supply flat out for 28 days.
Now, before some here jump on me that figure is not accurate, but
whatever the real figure is, it would be a great many times what any
practical battery could supply.
The round trip efficiency of both batteries and pumped hydro is +-70%.

Basically, it is now becoming accepted that wind and solar are unreliable
and to fiddle with the surrounding systems to make them reliable is
just far too expensive. That can be a reason to ban wind & solar.
This what the renewable lobby refuse to take into account when they
insist that wind/solar is the cheapest.